This free church bulletin article was written by Brian Humek from Irving, TX. You are free to use this in church bulletins, church emails and on church websites. No credit needs to be given. Simply clicking one of the books on our suggested reading list will help more free content to be placed on this site. Donate your own bulletin article here.
This was written just before we began our ministry at the Heartland Assisted Living Center a few years ago.
Pslams 92:12-15
This coming Sunday is a big day. The congregation I attend will begin a new nursing home ministry. I am honored to lead this service for its first two weeks. I may continue beyond that, but that is yet to be determined.
So what message will I take to those in wheel chairs and those with other frailties which may make life hard to bear? I think Psalms 92:12-15 is a wonderful message for those facing difficulties that advanced years may bring. Look specifically at verse 14 – “They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green.”
Bearing fruit is not one-dimensional. I’ve heard stories about folks who could not walk and were terminally ill, but they still bore fruit. One gentleman, in his 80s, used his phone to bear fruit. He encouraged people every day with his calls. He brightened many lives. Others can simply listen lovingly when their friends talk. Offering understanding is bearing fruit. Lifting up others in prayer is bearing fruit.
The superheroes of the Bible – Moses, Joshua, Daniel were all 80 or older when they did their mightiest work. But superheroes can be simple people with simple acts. One does not need to part the Red Sea, invade Canaan, or be a governor of Babylon to bear fruit. Living a life pleasing to God by praying to him and loving him is a fruit-bearing life too. Living a self-controlled life, acting kind toward others and having a gentle personality is also the sign of bearing fruit. This can be done at any age. Most of all, just acknowledging that God is your rock is the best way to bear fruit in old age. So believe it when the Psalmist says, “They will bear fruit.”
Suggested Reading
Senior Adult Ministry in the 21st Century
Author: David P. Gallagher
Pages: 148
Wipf & Stock Publishers
Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5 stars
Get More Info on Senior Adult Ministry in the 21st Century:
.
.
.
.
.
Authors: James M. Houston & Michael Parker
Pages: 279
IVP Academic
Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5 stars
Get More Info on A Vision for the Aging Church
Related posts:
I’m sure that you know people who don’t believe in, love or worship God. My first thought when I encounter such people, and I do so every day, isn’t how God will use them to accomplish his purposes he...
No matter how much pity we want to party with, there's no such thing as a Christmas without gifts. Seriously, I thought we were having a giftless Christmas one time, actually more than one time, but I...
In a world where terrorist bombings, stabbings, shootings happen almost weekly, we need hope. In a world where we don't know whether or not we'll keep our job through the end of the month, we need hop...
The other day I saw a guy in Starbucks with his Bible open. I found out he was doing some devotional reading. He had opened to the book of Zephaniah. “Wow, that’s some heavy duty devotional reading,” ...
There are a lot of good reasons to do a nursing home ministry. I can give you a number of reasons. The following devotional talks about one of our favorite times at Heartland Assisted Living Center. I...
The book of John is filled with signs, not miracles. Same thing? Yeah, but there is more significance to a sign; a sign points to something greater. The signs in the book of John pointed to Jesus, his...
“I could feel her listening with all her heart … and it felt good.” That may be a paraphrase but those or similar words came from the main character in the movie “Because of Winn-Dixie.” Listening is ...
Life is made up of stories, some small, some big, others true and a few that aren’t so true. It all depends on the storyteller’s point of view. Christina Crawford told a horrendous story about her mov...